Filter-forming machine



3, 1940- R. IRWINE 2,213,585

FILTER-FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 39 L j I LZWZ.

17 I Z3 7 o 24 .13 2 32; 0 l 7 1 SLOW MST IN vENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 ED STATES Robert L. Irwine, Union, N. 1., assignor to Motor Improvements, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 11, 1939, Serial No. 298,885

' 26 Claims.

This invention relates to filter-forming machines.

One type of filter consists of a cylindrical grilllike frame containing a cylindrical filtering unit formed of a metal ribbon helically wound with its edges constituting the inner and outer surface of the cylinder, the turns of the helix being spaced to provide filtering interstices by projections extending from one face of the ribbon. The outer surface of the helix contacts the inner surface of the frame 'and the liquid to be filtered fiows outwardly from the interior of the helix through the interstices.

An object of this invention is a simple and inexpensive machine for winding the metal ribbon into helical form within the frame with the outer surface of the helix in contact with the inner surface of the frame.

In its preferred embodiment, the machine is provided with a rotatable support for the frame and such support is provided with means for holding one end of the metal ribbon. The frame support is also mounted for axial movement and within the frame is arranged a stationary cylindrical block of such diameter that the frame fits it snugly, but rotates freely around it. The block is provided in its periphery with a groove oblique to the block axis and the ribbon passes through such groove into the frame. A rotatable shaft is journalled in the block and to this shaft is fixed a cylindrical guide or wiper of variable diameter, its maximum effective diameter being substantially equal to the interior -.of the helix to be formed and the wiper being normally held at such diameter by resilient means.

The ribbon is preformed of predetermined curvature and is equipped with spacers by any suitable mechanism such, for example, as conical forming rollers. The formed ribbon is fed on edge through the groove in the stationary block into the space between the wiper and the frame with both rotating in the same direction. The wiper may rotate at a slightly greater peripheral speed than the liner speed of the ribbon and the frame rotates at proper speed. to lay the ribbon in turns as fast as the ribbon is delivered. The wiper thus tends to urge the ribbon into contact with the inner-surface of the frame. As the helix builds up within the frame, it moves the frame and its support axially of the frame until the right length of helix has been produced at which time the operation of the machine is discontinued and the turns are fixed to the frame in any suitable manner such, for example, as by soldering.

ther objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the stantially on line i l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, and I Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the block and frame support in substantially the same relation as shown in Fig. 3.

A bed H1 is provided at one end witha frame I l in which is journalled a shaft 2, a second shaft l3 and a third shaft I i. A bar l5 issup- 20 ported at one end by the "frame ll and is provided at its other end with a head or block It, the shaft i l extending through the bar it beyond the head It and having a bearing in the head. (Fig. 4). A shaft I! is journalled in a frame it supported'by the bed i0 and is provided at one end witha pulley l9 driven through the medium of belt 20 by a source of power, not

shown. The shafts l2 and ll are provided with conical faced rollers 2i and 22, the face of the 30 roller 2! being provided with a series of radial slots 23.

The shafts iii and M are provided with pulleys 24 and 25 ancl'a belt 26 is provided for trans mitting power from one to the other. An infinitely variable transmission 2? has its input shaft 28 driven from the shaft ll through the medium of a belt '29 passingaround pulleys pro;- vided onthe shafts l! nad 28. A shaft 39 parallel to the shaft M is journalled at one end in the transmission 2'! and is journalled at its other end in a bracket 3! supported by the bed it. The shaft it also-has one end journalled in the transmission Z'l'. The driving arrangement in the transmission 2] is such that the shaft is is rotated at a constant speed while the speed of rotation of the shaft 38 may be increased or decreased by manipulation of the control handle 32.

A cup-shaped head 33 is rotatably supported by the shaft M and has a portion of reduced diameter-as shown at 33m in Fig. 6. A hub 34 is fixed to the shaft M for rotation therewith by a set screw 35 and is provided with a circular flange 36. Two substantially semi-circular blocks 3'! are attached to one face of the flange- 33 by bolts 38 passing through elongated re cesses 39, thereby permitting limited movement of the blocks 3% toward and away from each other. A pair of expansion springs 33 have their ends seated in recesses in the opposing faces of the blocks 3'! and tend to move the blocks apart. In the head if: is provided a circular recess which partially receives the blocks 3'1, the surface of the recess serving to limit the shaft it extending beyond the head l3 has its end journalled in a bracket it supported for movement into and out of journalling position with respect to the shaft'i i. A. frame :35 journals a set of pulleys 36 slidably keyed to the shaft 33 and a set of pulleys 4i fixed to the head 33 and both rotatable and slideable on the shaft 53. A belt A8 is provided for effecting rotation of one set of pulleys by the other. A cable 13 is attached to the frame lli and passes over pulleys 50 and 5!. Weights 52 are attached to the opposite ends of the cable 33 and the relation between the two weights is such that they tend to oppose movement of the frame 455 to the right.

When operated, the machine above described produces a filter consisting of a cylindrical grilllike frame containing a filtering unit comprising a metal ribbon helix, the turns of which are slidably spaced by transverse projections extending from one face of the ribbon. The ribbon is produced by feeding a metal wire W between the conical faces of the rollers 22 and 23, the roller 22 being positively driven by the shaft I! and the roller 2| being frictionally driven from the roller 22 through the medium of the wire W. The wire is converted into a flat ribbon of predetermined curvature and transverse projections are produced on one face by the action of the indentations 23. The ribbon R thus formed is conducted through a guide tube 53 which causes it to advance in helical form around the bar IE to the head It; where it passes on edge through the slot 4|.

In conditioning the machine for the production of a filter, the bracket 44 is disengaged from the end of the shaft l4 and the frame 45, together with the head 33 is moved to the right sufficiently to clear the end of the shaft I4, after which it is swung out of alinement with the shaft l4 about the shaft 33. The frame F which is to constitute a part of the finished filter is then placed over the head IEand the frame 45 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the head 33 contacting the head It. The end of the ribbon R is located in the groove 43 in the head 33 and is locked in place by the set screw 54. Next, the right hand end of the frame F is placed on the reduced portion 33a. of the head 33 which it fits snugly and is fixed thereto by bolts 55. With the parts thus arranged, the machine is in condition for operation to produce the desired filter.

As previously described, rotation of the roller 22 by the shaft IT produces metal ribbon of predetermined curvature which is fed through the slot ll. The head 33 is rotated from the shaft 33 through the medium of the'pulleys 46 and 41.

. and belt 48, the speed of rotation of the head being variable by operation of the handle 32. Rotation of the head 33 and continued feed of the ribbon R builds up the helical structure within the frame F and due to the fact that the head It; is stationary, such building up of the helix causes movement to the right of the head 33 and attached. frameF, together with the frame 45 and the parts associated therewith, such motion being opposed by the weights 52. At the same time, the shaft l4 together with the wiper consisting of the blocks 3! is caused to rotate in the same direction as the head 33 preferably at a somewhat higher linear speed than the feed rate of the ribbon R. The outer surface of the wiper engages the inner surface of the ribbon and forces it outwardly against the inner surface of the cage F and also urges the ribbon in the direction of rotation of the head 33. The diameter of the recess in the head I6 is such that the recess wall is substantially the same thickness as the width of the ribbon R. Consequently, the maximum effective diameter of the wiper is less than the interior diameter of the frame F by the width of the ribbon R. The wiper, therefore, tends to lay the ribbon with its outer edge snugly contacting the inner surface of the frame F and is yieldable to compensate for any variation in the width of the ribbon. By operation of the handle 32, the rotational speed of the head 33 is controllable to insure that the ribbon R is wound up in the frame at the same rate that it is delivered by the forming rolls 22 and 23.

Rotation of the head I3 is continued until the frame F has been sufliciently filled with the ribbon helix after which operation of the machine is discontinued and both ends of the helix are fixed to the frame by soldering or other equivalent procedure and the ribbon, of course, is out. Also, the ribbon is disconnected from the head 33 by loosening the set screw 54 and the bolts 55 are loosened to permit disengagement of the head 33 from the frame F. Next, the bracket 44 is disengaged from the shaft l4 and the frame 45 is manipulated to move the head 33 out of alinement with the head l6 thereby permitting removal of the finished filter.

It is, of course, understood that various modifications may be made in the apparatus above described without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block, a shaft journalled in said block, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block and movement axially thereof, means for rotating said shaft and said head, and means for guiding the ribbon into edge contact with the inner surface of said frame between said block and head. H

- 2. A device according to claim 1 in which means are provided for feeding said ribbon through said guiding means.

3. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block, a shaft journalled in said block, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said 75 block and movement axially thereof, a cylindrical member fixed to said shaft between said head and said block, means for rotating said shaft and said head, and means for guiding the ribbon into edge contact with the inner surface of said frame between said block and said head.

4.. A device according to claim 3 in which means are provided for feeding said ribbon through said guiding means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and said head.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and head.

7. A device according to claim 3 in which said cylindrical member is of variable size and is provided with resilient means tending to oppose decrease of its size.

8. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having a definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block, a shaft journalled in said block, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block and movement axially thereof, a two-section substantially cylindrical member fixed to said shaft between said block and said head, the sections of said member being supported for movement toward and away from each other with resilient means tending to move said sections apart, means limiting the extent of movement apart of said sections, means for rotating said shaft and said head, and means for guiding the ribbon into edge contact with the inner surface of said frame between said block and said head.

9. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block having a cylindrical recess, a shaft journalled in said block concentric ofsaid recess, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block and movement axially thereof, a twosection substantially cylindrical member fixed to said shaft and having one end extending into said recess, the sections of said member being supported for movement toward and away from each other with resilient means tending to move said sections into contact with the wall of said recess, means for rotating said shaft in said head, and means for guiding the ribbon into edge contact with the inner surface of said frame between said block and head.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and said head.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and said head.

12. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis, means for converting wire into flat ribbon of definite curvature about an axis perpendicular to its wide faces with spacers on one face and feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in said block, a cylindrical member fixed to said shaft adjacent said block and being of less diameter than said block by the width of said ribbon, means for supporting a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block in contact therewith and for movement axially of the block, and means for rotating said frame-supporting means and said shaft.

13. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis and having a recess in one face, means for converting wire into flat ribbon of definite curvature about an axis perpendicular to its wide faces with spacers on one face and feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in said block, a cylindrical member fixed to said shaft and fitting intosaid recess, the interior diameter of said recess and the outer diameter of said member being of less diameter than the diameter of said block by the width of said ribbon, means for supporting a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block in contact therewith and for movement axially of said block, and means for rotating said frame supporting means and said shaft.

14. A device according to claim 13 in which said cylindrical member is of variable diameter and resilient means are provided for maintaining the outer surface thereof in contact with the inner surface of said recess.

15. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis, means for converting wire into fiat ribbon of definite curvature about an axis perpendicular to its wide faces with spacers on one face and feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in said block, a cylindrical member of less diameter than said block by the ribbon width fixed to said shaft, a head slidable and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft and said head.

16. Apparatus according to claim. 15 in which said cylindrical member is of variable diameter and means including resilient members are provided for normally maintaining the diameter of said member less than the diameter of said block by the width of said ribbon.

17. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical block having a. groove in its surface oblique to its axis and having a cylindrical recess in one end, means for converting wire into flat ribbon of definite curvature about an axis perpendicular to its wide faces with spacers on one face-and feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in-said block, a cylindrical member fixed to said shaft and extendinginto said recess, the diameter of said member and the interior diameter of said recess being less than the diameter of said block by the width of said ribbon, a head slidable on and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means for rotating said head and said shaft.

18. A device according to claim 17 in which said cylindrical member is of variable diameter and is provided with resilient means tending to increase its diameter.

19. Apparatus according to claim 12 charac'. terized by rotation of the frame-supporting means and the shaft in the same direction.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and said head.

21. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis, means for converting wire into flat ribbon of definite curvature about an axis perpendicular to its wide faces with spacers on one face and feeding said ribbon on edge throughsaid groove, a shaft journalled in 7 said block, a cylindrical member of less diameter than said block fixed to said shaft, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft and said head.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 characterized by co-directional rotation of said shaft and said head.

23. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its Wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis, means for feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in said block, a cylindrical member of less diameter than said block by the ribbon width fixed to said shaft, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block in contact therewith and for movement axially of said block, and means for rotating said shaft and said head.

24. A device according to claim 23 in which said member is of variable diameter and means including resilient elements are provided for normally maintaining the diameter of said member less than the diameter of said block by the width of said ribbon.

25. A device for forming a filter from metal ribbon having definite curvature with respect to an axis perpendicular to its wide faces, said device comprising a cylindrical block having a groove in its surface oblique to its axis and having a cylindrical recess in one end, means for feeding said ribbon on edge through said groove, a shaft journalled in'said block, a cylindrical member fixed to said shaft and extending into said recess, the diameter of said member and the interior diameter of said recess being less than the diameter of said blockby the width of said ribbon, a head slidable on and rotatably mounted on said shaft, said head being adapted to support a cylindrical frame for rotation about said block in contact therewith and for movement axially of said block, and means for rotating said head and said shaft.

26. A device according to claim 25 in. which said cylindrical member is of variable diameter and is provided with resilient means tending to oppose decrease of its diameter.

ROBERT L. IRWINE. 

